Marina Mourtzakis

Biography

Dr. Marina Mourtzakis is an Associate Professor in the Department of kinesiology, University of Waterloo, University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada.

Research Interest

Dr. Marina Mourtzakis Research focuses on Skeletal muscle is a very plastic tissue that has the capacity to hypertrophy or atrophy under different metabolic conditions. Dynamic changes in muscle mass have a vital role in physiological, metabolic and physical function in diverse populations ranging from healthy individuals to patients with chronic disease (including cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). There are numerous factors that can influence changes in muscle mass including nutrition and fitness capacity. My research focuses on the interrelationship between nutrition, exercise, body composition and the effects of these factors on muscle metabolism in healthy people as well as patients with cancer. The vast majority of cancer patients endure varying degrees of muscle loss at different periods of the disease time-course. The loss of muscle is thought to have a detrimental effect on survival, disease progression, immune function, as well as physical function. To better understand muscle wasting in cancer, my work identifies methodological approaches of body composition to precisely measure and characterize changes in muscle in cancer patients. My research program will further examine potential underlying mechanisms of this problem and develop rehabilitative approaches to counter, and potentially prevent, muscle loss by integrating concepts of nutrition, protein metabolism and muscle physiology.